Smokey Sophie - A Roundhouse/Riverdale Amy coal fire build
- tom_tom_go
- Driver
- Posts: 4824
- Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 3:08 am
- Location: Kent, UK
- Contact:
The copper chimney cap is just to match my SL, however, I do have a OO scale GWR Pannier tank with the same set up
If you have always wanted a pop safety valve for your RH loco Polly Engineering can supply these with the correct thread 5/16" x 32ME although you have to calibrate it yourself.
How or where can I get these calibrated properly?
If you have always wanted a pop safety valve for your RH loco Polly Engineering can supply these with the correct thread 5/16" x 32ME although you have to calibrate it yourself.
How or where can I get these calibrated properly?
You normally set them up on the loco, using the pressure gauge as a reference. The safety valve should start to open a couple of psi below the nominal blowoff pressure and be fully open when working pressure is reached.tom_tom_go:98714 wrote: How or where can I get these calibrated properly?
On a coal fired loco. the pressure shouldn't go any higher than 10% above nominal with a good fire and the blower on full. Known as an accumulation test, it's basically to make sure the valve opening is big enough to get rid of the excess steam.
These little pressure gauges are usually accurate around the middle of their range (needle vertical), but if you aren't sure, fit the new pressure gauge to your Silver Lady and see if the gauge shows 40psi when the safety lifts. Then use it to set the safety on the new loco.
I tested my pressure gauges using my boiler testing rig, which is why I'm confident they work. Kozo Hiraoka has a gauge testing rig in one of his books that uses weights to check the gauge reading and I've been thinking of making one up (when I find my 'Round Tuit').
Anyone that can test garden scale boilers can check the pressure gauge for you and I imagine would help set up the safety valve if needed.
Graeme
- tom_tom_go
- Driver
- Posts: 4824
- Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 3:08 am
- Location: Kent, UK
- Contact:
I know it's been a while, so here is the latest.
I didn't get on the with the pop safety valve, it just kept letting off steam constantly. I have gone back to the RH one and adjusted it. With experience of firing the loco, you just need to watch the pressure gauge and as soon as it starts getting a bit high you open the coal door to cool the fire. I have found I am getting much longer runs now as not wasting water (steam) through the safety valve.
Riverdale boilers really are easy to fire. I even managed last weekend to run it with my gas SL at the same time with my step daughter in charge. Even after two hours the lubricator on the Riverdale had plently of oil left.
The body is on it's way from Rhos Helgy works where Tony has done a fantastic job building, painting and doing something clever with the roof although I will need to have it in the metal to show you all properly.
Here are some quick shots of it from his workshop though (quality is poor as it was raining outside:
I didn't get on the with the pop safety valve, it just kept letting off steam constantly. I have gone back to the RH one and adjusted it. With experience of firing the loco, you just need to watch the pressure gauge and as soon as it starts getting a bit high you open the coal door to cool the fire. I have found I am getting much longer runs now as not wasting water (steam) through the safety valve.
Riverdale boilers really are easy to fire. I even managed last weekend to run it with my gas SL at the same time with my step daughter in charge. Even after two hours the lubricator on the Riverdale had plently of oil left.
The body is on it's way from Rhos Helgy works where Tony has done a fantastic job building, painting and doing something clever with the roof although I will need to have it in the metal to show you all properly.
Here are some quick shots of it from his workshop though (quality is poor as it was raining outside:
Last edited by tom_tom_go on Sat Jan 21, 2017 5:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- tom_tom_go
- Driver
- Posts: 4824
- Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 3:08 am
- Location: Kent, UK
- Contact:
- tom_tom_go
- Driver
- Posts: 4824
- Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 3:08 am
- Location: Kent, UK
- Contact:
I believe I have now got all the R/C workings sorted:
The dome needs painting I think to the same colour as the body and the RH safety valve is not up to the job required of the Riverdale boiler pressure of 58 Psi, it wastes steam.
I tried a pop safety valve before but could not get it to work properly (could of just been the quality of the product) so Tony has recommended John Shawe which Santa might bring me for Christmas These also fit the RH safety valve bonnet which is a bonus.
Tony has given me great free advice regarding the set up of this loco so I cannot thank him enough. If you need any work done on your locos/stock he really is the guy to contact, proper job
The dome needs painting I think to the same colour as the body and the RH safety valve is not up to the job required of the Riverdale boiler pressure of 58 Psi, it wastes steam.
I tried a pop safety valve before but could not get it to work properly (could of just been the quality of the product) so Tony has recommended John Shawe which Santa might bring me for Christmas These also fit the RH safety valve bonnet which is a bonus.
Tony has given me great free advice regarding the set up of this loco so I cannot thank him enough. If you need any work done on your locos/stock he really is the guy to contact, proper job
Looking very neat. Is the pressure gauge reading 10psi or is it a camera trick ?
Dan,
James: "Dan, can you use your hearing and tell me if that trains coming ?"
DLR
www.freewebs.com/dlrail
James: "Dan, can you use your hearing and tell me if that trains coming ?"
DLR
www.freewebs.com/dlrail
- tom_tom_go
- Driver
- Posts: 4824
- Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 3:08 am
- Location: Kent, UK
- Contact:
- tom_tom_go
- Driver
- Posts: 4824
- Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 3:08 am
- Location: Kent, UK
- Contact:
- Chris Cairns
- Driver
- Posts: 2366
- Joined: Mon Oct 29, 2007 7:25 pm
- Location: Glasgow, Scotland
Looking great Tom.
We have a double bonus for aspiring coal fired owners like myself at Peterborough next month. A demonstration by Joep Janssen of Riverdale followed by Tag Gorton's demonstration.
Eagerly looking forward to these demonstrations. My Riverdale Elke boiler kit is pencilled in for delivery in January 2016.
Chris Cairns
We have a double bonus for aspiring coal fired owners like myself at Peterborough next month. A demonstration by Joep Janssen of Riverdale followed by Tag Gorton's demonstration.
Eagerly looking forward to these demonstrations. My Riverdale Elke boiler kit is pencilled in for delivery in January 2016.
Chris Cairns
- tom_tom_go
- Driver
- Posts: 4824
- Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 3:08 am
- Location: Kent, UK
- Contact:
- Chris Cairns
- Driver
- Posts: 2366
- Joined: Mon Oct 29, 2007 7:25 pm
- Location: Glasgow, Scotland
- tom_tom_go
- Driver
- Posts: 4824
- Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 3:08 am
- Location: Kent, UK
- Contact:
Looking forward to following this project, something I've thought about, but, like you, I only needed one steamer and bought nearly every enhancement for my Bertie. ha! I'm now awaiting delivery from Locoworks of my new Lady Anne. I see you have an Acucraft coupling on the front of yours, is that the Swiftsixteen one?tom_tom_go:84172 wrote:So back on topic after my thread was hijacked
I always thought I would only ever have just one live steamer, how wrong was I
Molly (the cat) looks annoyed because I sold the diesel chassis that was meant to have her name on it to help fund this coal fired project.
When in doubt, brew up.
www.dunkittandknibble-lr.com
www.dunkittandknibble-lr.com
- tom_tom_go
- Driver
- Posts: 4824
- Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 3:08 am
- Location: Kent, UK
- Contact:
Compliment duly earned, looks good. I'm just starting to experiment with chopper couplings to avoid fiddling with chains when my Lady Anne arrives.tom_tom_go:109600 wrote:I'll take that as a compliment as my attempt to modify the Accucraft version looks like the SwiftSixteen oneDKLR:109437 wrote: I see you have an Acucraft coupling on the front of yours, is that the Swiftsixteen one?
- tom_tom_go
- Driver
- Posts: 4824
- Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 3:08 am
- Location: Kent, UK
- Contact:
Narrow Planet had a discount on their site a while back so I ordered a set of name and works plates for my Riverdale loco.
Test fitting this evening:
The works plate is brass and the name plate is nickel silver. I thought the works plate was going to be nickel as well, however, I like the fact they are two different colours now I have seen them on the loco (below photo shows the difference brass/nickel)
Test fitting this evening:
The works plate is brass and the name plate is nickel silver. I thought the works plate was going to be nickel as well, however, I like the fact they are two different colours now I have seen them on the loco (below photo shows the difference brass/nickel)
-
- Cleaner
- Posts: 87
- Joined: Sun Jan 01, 2017 11:36 am
- Location: Cornwall
- tom_tom_go
- Driver
- Posts: 4824
- Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 3:08 am
- Location: Kent, UK
- Contact:
Glad you enjoyed reading about the loco dizzy. It is certainly cheaper to build one yourself if you have the time...
I am finally happy with the whistle and pipe work so did a short video while running in the cold (excuse the quality, as it was filmed on my phone):
You cannot beat the smell of a coal fired engine, I love it!
I am finally happy with the whistle and pipe work so did a short video while running in the cold (excuse the quality, as it was filmed on my phone):
You cannot beat the smell of a coal fired engine, I love it!
- tom_tom_go
- Driver
- Posts: 4824
- Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 3:08 am
- Location: Kent, UK
- Contact:
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest